The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-01
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W. VA. FEBRUARY i, 1887.



A shrewd, but 70! highly reputable,
scheme is hidden away in two billa now
before the Legislature. Six years ago tho
Third Judicial District gave nearly 200
Democratic majority; now, thanks to the
excellent work Of tho Republicans in that
district, the majority Is about 1900 the
other way. It 10 fe!t to be party necs.
atty to ssvs this district TO Judge Ice or
GONE other Democrat, and 90 the Logisls-
ture Is asked to do 1t. A lobby 10 on hand
to enforce tho request with the argument
Of high party necessity.
Mr.. Shaw, OF Barbour, has introduced
House bill No. 81, which proposes 10 take
Preston out Of tho Third and
put 1t in the Twelfth District;
and TO take Mineral out Of tho
Twelfth and put It in tho Thirteenth. The
bill has no other object than to make
these districts Democratic. The map
shows what ridiculous arrangement this
would be. Two OF the judgea would have
to travel over ono end Of western Mary.
laud 10 get to their courts.
Senators Flouruoy, OF Hampshire, and
pics. Of Mineral, were not altogether
pleised with this particular jugs!e, and SO
Sen stor Flournoy, at tho instance OF Judge
Ice, has offered In the Senate bill which
takes Preston out OF the Third district and
places it in the Second with Harrison,
Moaongalia and Marion. This Second
circuit has more work in it than any other
in tho State; but it 10 hopelessly Republic
eau, and it will do no harm to tho Democ.
rAcy to make it more 60 by tho added
weight OF tho heavily Republican county
oil Preston. .aM
OF courac euch MEASURE is not pro-
po;ed without something in the nature OF
an argument to back it. 1t ia said that the
district is largo and Judge Ice overworked.
The overwork is only apparent, showing
to better advantage than it deserves in the
Auditors report, where number Of cases
counts wthou. regard to work required.
The reason why 80 many csses are de-
cidel in Judge Ices court 10 easily e1-
planned: No county in the district grants
liquor license, but these counties are not
entirely dry" In all OF them the docke.s
are crowded with whisky indictments,
most, ii not all Of which, 80 off at the rate
Of from fifteen to twenty at time by con-
fession, or without being prosecuted. Ths
exhibit in tbs Auditors report is further
swelled by the fact that many failures
have occurred in Judge Ices district, CIV
ing rise to many judgmenta boing taken
With no trouble to anybody but the law
yers employ ed.
The litigation OF the Third Dietsict is Of
the simpleat kind. Three days in each
term suffice Tor Tucker, week does for
Randolph, and two weeks are enough for
Taylor, Barbour and Preston. This ia not
q slightly scheme, let it ba viewed as it
may. Nothing recommends it to anybody
but the fact that it is a purely partisan
effort to juscle certain Judicial districts in
the interest Of party which is steadily
and surely letting SO its hold in West
Virginia. There ought to be Democrats
in tho Legislature who will not conssnt to
chop up Judicial districls aftor such
fashion ard for such a purpose. Ger
tainly the Republican minority ia strong
enough to stop it. The object Of the meaa-
ure having bsen made plain, i,s defeat
should not be difficult matter.